Shoe assembling and locating attachment



July 2, 1963 M- NECKRICH 3,095,590

SHOE ASSEMBLING AND LOCATING ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 24, 1962 INVENTOR. M4X mar e/ch,

ATToP/VEYS.

United States Patent 3,095,590 SHUE ASSEMBLING AND LOCATING ATTACHMENT Max Neekrich, Shamokin, Pa. (1515 Miilllin St, Huntingdon, Pa.) Filed Aug. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 219,289 3 Claims. (61. 12141) This invention relates to a shoe assembling and locating attachment for lasts.

In the manufacture of low shoes the upper is placed upon a last of wood, and when so placed, the upper is correctly positioned on the back end of the last so that its back seam will be in line with the middle of the back of the last and its top edge will be at the correct distance from the top of the last. With the upper so positioned, a single tack is driven through the upper along the middle of or near its back seam into the last. The upper is drawn forwardly and toward the bottom of the last, and the shoe is pulled over and lasted in the usual manner. In pulling the upper down to the last a strain of some magnitude is liable to be placed on the securing tack, and if the tack has not been firmly driven into the last, the tack may become bent or pulled out, causing displacement of the upper. -Also, if the tack is firmly held in the last, it sometimes happens that the upper becomes misplaced on the last because of the enlargement of the tack hole by the yielding of the leather or the thread of the back seam.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe assembling and locating attachment which replaces the securing tack, and which lends itself to ready securement to the back of a last at any desired position on the back of the last.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe assembling and locating attachment which, when secured to the back of a last in the desired position, accurately locates the rear end of a low shoe upper in its intended position and securely holds it in this position until the lasting operation has been finished.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe assembling and locating attachment which is of simple structure, and which is highly efficient in action and commercially feasible.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a last having the attachment, according to the present invention, applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIGURE 1, showing a shoe upper mounted thereon;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front view of the blank forming the attachment according to the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the blank of FIGURE 3, shaped to the form to constitute the attachment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 10, FIGURE 1, generally designates a wooden last, and on this last is mounted the shoe assembling and locating attachment of the present invention, and generally designated by the numeral 12. The attachment 12, FIGURES 3 to 5 inclusive, embodies a flexible flat strip 14, and on said strip means is provided which comprises longitudinally-spaced holes 16 for receiving securing elements, such as nails. Abutment means 20 overhangs the front face of the strip ice 14, and is supported from the mid-portion of the upper edge of the strip 14, as clearly shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The abutment means 20 is so constructed and arranged so as to engage the top rear edge portion of a shoe upper at each side of the middle seam thereof. Specifi cally, the abutment means 20 takes the form of a lip 22 which overhangs the front face of the strip 14, the lip and the spacing between the lip and the strip being constructed and arranged to embracingly engage the top rear edge portion of a shoe upper at each side of the middle seam and press this portion against corresponding portions of the strip.

The attachment 12 is formed from a blank, FIGURE 3, which includes the flexible flat strip 14 and having the lip 22 lying flat and disposed along the mid-portion of the upper edge of the strip 14 and connected to the upper edge of the strip 14 by a fold line 24. The lip 22 is bent toward the front face of the strip 14 so that it overhangs the front face of the strip, as clearly shown in FIGURE 4.

The attachment 12, FIGURE 1, is disposed so that the flexible flat strip 14 is vertical and extends transversely about the rear end of the last 10, spaced below and adjacent the upper edge thereof, with the front face and lip 22 facing away from the rear end of the last 10. Fastening elements in the form of nails 26 extend through the holes 18 and are driven into the last 10 on opposite sides of the rear end thereof and fixedly secure the strip 14 to the last 10 in disposed relation thereto.

A shoe upper 30, FIGURE 2, is placed upon the last 10, and when so placed, the upper is positioned on the back end of the last so that its back seam is in line with the middle of the back of the last and its top edge bears against the connecting part of the lip 22 to the strip 14. The upper is then drawn forwardly and toward the bottom of the last, and the shoe is pulled over and lasted in the usual manner.

It is to be noted that the attachment 12 may be adjusted to any desired height on the last 10.

The thus described attachment eliminates the use of any nails, and hence, does away with the formation of nail holes in the last. Also, by the use of this attachment straight and even seams are assured, thus avoiding crooked seams on the backs of shoes. In addition, repairs to the last are considerably reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a last, a shoe assembling and locating attachment embodying a flexible flat strip adapted to be disposed vertically so as to extend transversely about the rear end of the last spaced below and adjacent the upper edge thereof, means provided on said strip adapted to receive securing elements disposed on opposite sides of the rear end of the last and driven into the last to fixedly secure the strip to the last in the disposed relation thereto, and abutment means overhanging the front face of said strip and supported from the midportion of the upper edge of said strip, said abutment means being constructed and arranged to engage the top rear edge portion of a shoe upper at each side of the middle seam thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said abutment means comprises a lip overhanging the front face of said strip, said lip and the spacing between said lip and said strip being constructed and arranged to embracingly engage the top rear edge portion of a shoe upper at each side of the middle seam and press said portion against corresponding portions of said strip.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said means on the strip comprises longitudinally-spaced holes.

No references cited. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A LAST, A SHOE ASSEMBLING AND LOCATING ATTACHMENT EMBODYING A FLEXIBLE FLAT STRIP ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED VERTICALLY SO AS TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY ABOUT THE REAR END OF THE LAST SPACED BELOW AND ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF, MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID STRIP ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SECURING ELEMENTS DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES ON THE REAR END OF THE LAST AND DRIVEN INTO THE LAST TO FIXEDLY SECURE THE STRIP TO THE LAST IN THE DISPOSED RELATION THERETO, AND ABUTMENT MEANS OVERHANGING THE FRONT FACE OF SAID STRIP AND SUPPORTED FROM THE MIDPORTION OF THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID STRIP, SAID ABUTMENT MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO ENGAGE THE TOP REAR EDGE PORTION OF A SHOE UPPER AT EACH SIDE OF THE MIDDLE SEAL THERE OF. 